Safety and Strangers

After a rainy afternoon in the library, Finn chose a book about two best friends and an alien potato with fuzzy green ear hair and Asher chose to check out of the library a set of books about “safety.” Our librarian fills blue net bags with books relating to the topic. The last bag I brought home was about “potty training”. We definitely hadn’t spoken about “safety” in a formal way and I liked Asher’s new interest.

When we got home the first book on safety we read was about learning how and when to dial 9-1-1. The boys practiced pushing the book’s “phone” buttons and stated their names and the emergency loud and clear to the “dispatcher.” We learned to stop drop and role. Not to play with matches. The boys had heard some of these cautionary warnings, but to actually sit down with a book synthesized some learning. We read a few books on strangers and then the following night we sat down and watched the DVD that was in the learning bag.

For as long as I can remember the boys have always been friendly and open-hearted to everyone we would greet on the street. They welcomed new babysitters, new friends, and our neighbors. However, how do I break it to them that there are bad people out there that do bad things? The video explained it like this.. “people are like dogs too, they may look nice and sweet and friendly, but you just don’t know what they could do to you…”

Hmmm. We kept watching.

After the movie the boys were clear about our safety circle and we even came up with some codes when we were in public if the boys were starting to break the safety zone. We identified family and friends that were in the safety circle and clearly defined the “kind of knows” in our life… mailman, neighbors, and the ice cream truck driver etc.

When I drove to school the next day Asher said “I’m going to have to tell my friend Artemis about this, she hugs everyone.” When I picked up Finn from school his teacher told me that he heard Finn said to his friend Nate, “If someone tries to pretend to be your Dad and he’s a stranger, RUN!” or something to that effect.

This will take practice, role playing and more healthy discussions. They weren’t ready before and now they are teaching it. Unfortunately there are hurtful people in the universe.

Maybe Asher can reproduce that heart medallion he made for all of us to wear on a daily basis, so we can remind ourselves that we are loved, lovable, strong, and safe.

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